Shloka 53
Chapter 47: Krauñca-vyūha Deployment and Conch-Signals
Kaurava–Pāṇḍava Readiness
द्रोण उवाच यदि मां नाभिगच्छेथा युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय: । शपेयं त्वां महाराज पराभावाय सर्वश:,द्रोणाचार्य बोले--महाराज! यदि युद्धका निश्चय कर लेनेपर तुम मेरे पास नहीं आते तो मैं तुम्हारी सर्वथा पराजय होनेके लिये तुम्हें शाप दे देता
droṇa uvāca yadi māṁ nābhigacchethā yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ | śapeyaṁ tvāṁ mahārāja parābhāvāya sarvaśaḥ ||
Droṇa said: “O great king, if—having resolved upon battle—you did not come to me, I would have pronounced a curse upon you, ensuring your complete defeat.”
द्रोण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of commitment and proper alignment with one’s appointed guide/commander: once a decision for war is taken, failing to present oneself and coordinate is treated as a grave breach of discipline, inviting severe consequences (here expressed as a potential curse leading to total defeat).
Droṇa addresses a king and states that if the king, despite having resolved to fight, had not come to him, Droṇa would have cursed him so that he would suffer complete defeat—underscoring Droṇa’s authority and the seriousness of wartime resolve and obedience.